Colonial Williamsburg will reconstruct one of the town’s busiest buildings in the 18th century using a $1 million commitment from one of its trustees.
Forrest Mars Jr., of Big Horn, Wyo., is funding his third major historic reconstruction at Colonial Williamsburg since 2007. He has given more than $11 million to the foundation in that time.
The Market House will be a wooden structure on a brick base, measuring about 20 feet wide and 40 feet long with a shingled hip roof. The sides of the building will be entirely or partially open, according to a news release.
The reconstructed building, though still in the preliminary stages of planning, will likely be constructed between the Magazine’s Guardhouse and Duke of Gloucester Street, said CWF spokesperson Jim Bradley.
“Forrest Mars’ most recent gift for the Market House affirms his belief in the importance of the Revolutionary City as a stage for teaching history and engaging guests,” said Colin Campbell, president and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “We are extremely grateful for his vision and his generosity.”
The original Market House from 1757 shows few remnants today, though its existence is widely known to have been used until its replacement in 1835. The building stood in Market Square, a portion of the town set aside as open space to be used for markets and fairs.
“I am excited by the prospect of having a new market building as the centerpiece of commerce in today’s Revolutionary City, just as it was in the 18th century,” said Mars, who previously gave a $5 million donation for R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse and $5 million for the James Anderson Blacksmith Shop and Public Armoury.
An archaeology study of the Market House site is scheduled for this summer, and the foundation hopes to have the building constructed and in use by 2015.
